Paper and paperboard waste market in Kazakhstan

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market for paper and paperboard waste in Kazakhstan experienced notable fluctuations, primarily driven by changes in trade flows. A pivotal regulatory measure was the 2019 ban on exports of waste paper outside Kazakhstan, reinforced in 2022, which sharply reduced overseas shipments and increased domestic supply for recycling. This policy shift contributed to the market volume rising to 39,490 t in 2019, despite stable domestic production of 37,700 t annually.

The market dipped to 33,593 t in 2020, coinciding with a temporary surge in exports that year. A significant recovery followed in 2021, with the market reaching 41,671 t, supported by a jump in imports to 17,816 t. This growth aligned with broader efforts to develop waste processing infrastructure under Kazakhstan's 'green' economy concept. Subsequent years saw continued regulatory influence, including the 2022 export ban and the 2019 prohibition on landfilling paper waste, which incentivized collection and sorting.

Throughout the period, the expansion of the waste management sector was evident, with the number of companies engaged in collection and sorting growing to 808 by 2023. Increased sorting volumes and the establishment of collection hubs further augmented the availability of secondary raw materials for domestic processors, supporting market volume which stabilized around 41,686 t by 2023.

Production paper and paperboard waste in Kazakhstan

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

World map of production of paper and paperboard waste, 2017-2020

In 2020, Kazakhstan produced 37 700 tonnes of paper and paperboard waste, showing only minor year-over-year fluctuations compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 0.0%, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2018 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports paper and paperboard waste from Kazakhstan

Exports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export volumes reached their minimum in 2019 at 3 077 tonnes and peaked in 2018 at 12 270 tonnes, representing a fourfold difference. In 2020, Kazakhstan's paper and paperboard waste exports totalled 9 676 tonnes, marking a sharp increase of 214.5% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 74.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and Uzbekistan accounted for 83.6% of total exports in kind, with the remaining share distributed among other destinations, each contributing smaller individual amounts.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. Export values hit their lowest point in 2017 and reached a maximum in 2018 at 1 788 thousand US dollars, showing a 3.4-fold increase. In 2020, paper and paperboard waste shipments from Kazakhstan totalled 1 005 thousand US dollars, representing a sharp gain of 66.3% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 66.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 240.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, the country structure of exports in value terms was dominated by Russia and Uzbekistan, which together accounted for 85.8% of total flows; other markets formed a long tail with smaller contributions.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020

Imports paper and paperboard waste to Kazakhstan

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Import volumes were at their lowest in 2017 and peaked in 2018 at 7 986 tonnes, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 2.1 times. In 2020, Kazakhstan imported a total of 5 569 tonnes of paper and paperboard waste, showing a solid rise of 14.4% compared with 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 39.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 107.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, imports in kind of paper and paperboard waste to Kazakhstan were highly concentrated on Russia, which accounted for 98.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Imported paper and paperboard waste volumes in Kazakhstan declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports came to 1 134 thousand US dollars, indicating a gradual decrease of 6.4% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 31.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 12.0%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 2 651 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 54.3%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 59.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over 2017–2020, virtually all imports in value terms of paper and paperboard waste to Kazakhstan were associated with Russia, whose share reached 99.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020